EASTON, Pa. — A Nazareth man charged with killing his in-laws at their home in a 55+ community in Palmer Township in June has pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree murder, officials said.
Xiaomin Fei, 34, on Thursday entered the plea in the June 3 shooting deaths of Robert and Gretchen Ackerman, Northampton County District Attorney Stephen G. Baratta announced.
Northampton County Judge Craig A. Dally sentenced Fei to two life sentences in state prison, to run consecutively without the possibility of parole.Northampton County District Attorney's Office release
Northampton County Judge Craig A. Dally sentenced Fei to two life sentences in state prison, to run consecutively without the possibility of parole.
Fei also had been charged with reckless endangerment, burglary and possessing instruments of a crime. Authorities said Fei bought the weapon, a revolver, less than 24 hours before the shooting.
Fei is a Chinese national and an American citizen, Baratta previously said.
Authorities previously said divorce papers were delivered to Fei before the shooting.
Woman, children at murder scene
On the day of the shootings, Palmer Township police responded to a domestic disturbance on Glasgow Way, authorities said.
While en route, officers learned that a second 911 call had been made by a woman stating her husband was going to kill her and her children.
Police arrived and made contact with Fei at the front door, who had a gun. They secured the weapon and took Fei into custody, authorities said.
Officers entered and secured the residence and found the victims, Robert and Gretchen Ackerman, who both had gunshot wounds to the head.Northampton County District Attorney's Office release
Officers then entered and secured the residence and found the victims, Robert and Gretchen Ackerman, who both had gunshot wounds to the head.
Both later were pronounced dead.
Further police investigation revealed that Fei was married to the Ackermans’ daughter, who was at her parents’ residence with her two sons, ages 5 and 4, at the time of the shooting.
Fei went to the residence located at Glasgow Way, and when he was denied entry, Fei got a hammer from his vehicle, broke a window to gain access, and confronted Robert and Gretchen Ackerman in the kitchen before shooting them, authorities said.
The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Debra G. Naish and Assistant District Attorney Derek P. Richmond, and investigated by the Palmer Township Police Department.
